Chapter 1253 - 615: God of Tears (Part 2)

"For the sake of safety, you should leave Salt Rock Port as soon as possible."

Xia Nan had certainly heard of the name York Shaw before; it seemed to be the name of the leader of the unfortunate pirates he encountered on his way to Salt Rock Port.

Right now, the corpses at the bottom of the sea had likely been gnawed away to bones by various sea beasts.

"No need to worry, he won’t be coming back."

Xia Nan reassured.

Looking at the thin, dispirited young man in front of him, seemingly dazed by his response, he initially thought to share more insights about his understanding of Divine teachings.

But after careful consideration, he swallowed back his words.

He confirmed that the injuries the other person had sustained were minor and wouldn’t affect daily activities, and would heal in a few days.

Then he turned and left the alley without further delay.

...

In many cases, when people decide to place their faith in a certain religion or a specific Divine, it’s not because they believe the doctrines are inherently righteous, or that the Church’s conduct is so noble and revered.

It’s purely because life has become too painful, the twists and turns nearly crushing their mental will.

Having hit rock bottom and seeing no hope, the so-called "voluntary liberation" is perhaps just half a step away.

In such circumstances, faith that is grand and elusive yet inexplicably hopeful becomes their last lifeline, preventing them from becoming mere walking corpses.

For either Wensar or Xia Nan, they were merely passersby in each other’s lives.

After today, they might never meet again.

From Xia Nan’s perspective, the other had provided some minor assistance, so he was willing to help the other out of trouble when needed.

But that was all there was to it.

He wasn’t so kind-hearted as to play the life mentor for every acquaintance, solving their difficulties.

And from what he perceived, the young man’s state didn’t necessarily require external interference, self-resolution seemed sufficient.

Once those endured hardships are thoroughly digested, life would step into a new Chapter.

And if they couldn’t overcome it... that’s common in this world.

Walking down the street, recalling the encounter in the alley, Xia Nan thought.

He didn’t deal with the corpses.

Unlike in Neum, a core inland city.

Adventurers, or rather Extraordinary Individuals, transcended order in a vividly evident manner at this time.

Xia Nan didn’t need to worry if a local sheriff would knock on his door the next morning.

Though it wasn’t outright stated, in a small town like Salt Rock Port, an elite professional like himself undoubtedly enjoyed implicit privileges.

As long as things weren’t stirred too much, eyes were typically turned a blind eye.

Not to mention those he had killed were villains who, under the guise of pirate adventurers, preyed on the people.

It’s likely that when the bodies of those thugs were discovered, even the nearby civilians would come and spit on them.

...

...

Two days quickly passed.

With most of his supplies stored in the White Pot pocket watch.

Xia Nan set off lightly equipped, following the route planned over the past days, leaving Salt Rock Port for Blood Castle.

Unlike the year-round moist heat of the Southern Islands, the area near Sevia’s northeast border had distinct seasons again.

As late spring arrived, temperatures gradually rose, yet due to its proximity to the northern mainland, there was a slight chill, making the air pleasantly cool.

Although with Xia Nan’s current physique, most external climate changes were irrelevant, traveling in such a relatively pleasant environment was indeed uplifting.

In contrast, the terrain experience was slightly less favorable.

Different from the vast plains near Mist Forest and the open ocean outside Suo Yu Bay.

Traveling from Salt Rock Port to the border at Blood Castle, the terrain was like a sheet of paper crumpled into a ball and then spread out again; while there might not be any grand, spectacular towering peaks, countless undulating hills filled the landscape, gradually rising in elevation.

And most of it was untouched wilds, unexplored by intelligent creatures, inhabited by numerous dangerous demons.

Even on the few paths carved out by various merchant caravans, bandits and outlaws lurked.

Moreover, due to its geographical position near two countries’ borders, this area often saw notorious criminals and opportunists.

Any seemingly safe cave encountered on the road might be the lair of some powerful demon, or a recent hideout for a wanted criminal.

Even though Xia Nan was rather strong, he had always been cautious, and it was unlikely he’d let his guard down now.

Especially as a Lone Wolf, even with his fine equipment offering some intimidation to rational folks.

Encounters with some greedy ones, assuming a numerical advantage and seeking a big haul, might still provoke covetous looks and even conflicts.

Therefore, he’d prepared mentally for possible encounters on this journey well before setting out, ready to enter combat mode at any time.

"Snap..."

The sturdy, solid leather shoes landed firmly on the sloping plane full of mud and stones.

Stepping forward with slight exertion, you could see small stones rolling down the slope as they were pushed back.

This kind of hill would require most caravans to take a detour.

Even travelers accustomed to long treks would need to stay focused constantly to maintain balance and avoid slipping or falling.

For Xia Nan, however, such a hill was virtually no hazard, practically as easy as walking on flat ground.

The professional level physique was part of it, but most importantly, it was the balance boost from Tidal Shaping and the constant halving of fall damage.

This companion specialty from Fallen Blade Hunting initially served only as daily assistance.

But as Xia Nan’s Professional Level rose higher and his adventuring career extended, he truly realized its remarkable effects.

Reaching the top of the slope, Xia Nan’s breath hadn’t significantly changed.

Gazing at the distant mountains, and turning slightly to glance at the splendid sunset dipping into the mountains at the horizon’s edge, considering if he should stop here for the day, Xia Nan gently pressed the side button on the White Pot pocket watch, retrieving the map he bought from a grocery store in Salt Rock Port.

He compared it to the terrain ahead.

Suddenly, an unusual clamor arose from below.

His gaze looked down, obstructed by vegetation, unable to see clearly.

Carefully distinguishing the noises, he could vaguely hear intermingled human shouts and beast roars.

Xia Nan had no intention of involving himself, but since it was happening right there, even without participating, he chose to observe discreetly for safety’s sake, to understand what kind of trouble it was, at least gaining some preparedness for any potential encounters in the area.

Concealing himself, he tread softly.

With his body weight shifted backward, almost hugging the hillside slope, he slid down lightly.

Thus, he was able to see beyond the vegetation, observing the scene in the valley.

"Roar!!!"

A fierce roar, akin to a lion’s, echoed between the valley’s stone walls.

Three terrifying, distorted demons, one large and two small, were distributed across the valley, vaguely forming an encircling stance.

Their appearance was highly recognizable, with massive lion-like four-legged bodies, long tails ending in sharp spikes, and distinctly human-like facial features—

Scorpion-tailed Lion, Challenge Level "3"!

Meanwhile, what was encircled by these demons seemed to be a troop of soldiers, who had obviously experienced some skirmish, appearing battered but barely maintaining formation, clad in standard-issue gear.

With no need for exceptional eyesight, Xia Nan instantly spotted the two figures within the encircled soldiers, distinctly dressed differently from the others, clad in familiar loose robes.